**Please mind the typos on this one**
YEY! It only took me 10 min today to figure out how to make this computer work for me! So....I have been in Juticalpa for 3 full days now. On Thursday I headed to Catacamus (4 hours out of Tegucicalpa) for a inter-regional exchange of information for environmental organizations in the area at the National University of Agriculture. Within twenty min of leaving the office it started to pour. By the to,e we reached the outskirts of the city (about a half hour of rain) it was crazy. The road was completely submerged in places, so we just drove through hoping that: 1) we could go fast enough that you wont get stuck and 2) there is still something left under the water so you can make it through and impromptu water falls appeared hurling mass amounts of water off the cliffs and onto the highway. It was absolutely crazy to see and I cant even imagine living in some of the homes we passed along the way...there is no way they are able to hold their own against such a torrential assault. And then....an hour later, the rain stopped and the sun came out...just crazy.
On this four and a half hour drive I also had the opportunity to experience my first police check stop...which was pretty terrifying considering I wasn't too sure what was going on or what they wanted most of the time...make that the entire time. It ended up well and we were on our way.
The conference was very interesting,although I´m not sure I understood enough to fully appreciate the knowledge and passion of the participants and presenters I did my best to learn new words and absorb what I could. I got to meet some of the people I will be working with in Salama from MAO, as well as people from other organizations that are working on the same issues, and find out a little bit more about the challenges and difficulties they are currently facing, as well as what successes they have had in the past. Coincidentally MAO, who I will be working with, focuses mainly on the illegal exploitation of trees in Olancho and the environmental degradation that occurs as a result. Thanks to my time spent in BC treep-planting I had a little bit to share on Canada´s own forestry regulations, and some of the associated risks and challenges that we are currently facing. Thanks to Sandra´s pushing, when it was my groups turn to present I gave a short synopsis of what is happening with the pine beetle as a consequence to planting a monoculture of trees in hopes to gain the biggest profit. It wasn't a long presentation by any means, and I think I blacked out half way through it, but I think everyone appreciate my miserable attempt to speak Spanish and share information...even though Sandra had to explain what I was trying to say after I finished so everyone could understand.
Our last night in Catacamus we came back to the hotel to a full blown party...and oddly enough the Black Eyed Pea´s Tonight´s gonna be a good night on repeat. It was a girls Quinceañera...which is a huge celebration in Latin Cultures for the 15th birthday. It was pretty cool to see, although Sandra was grumpy because the music was blaring until 1 in the morning and she couldn't sleep.
Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and then Sandra, Hermilo and I drove to Juticalpa. They took me to the HUGE office that they thought I would be able to live in, however there is some regulation in FLM policy that prohibits that so that´s no longer an option, and then they dropped me off at a hotel...which is where it was not so great to have an over active imagination. Realizing that I was totally alone and can barley speak Spanish sent me over the edge for about 2 hours...then I calmed myself down and decided that going for a walk would be a great idea and when I returned unharmed my imagination could take a break and I would feel much more comfortable. This is exactly what happened. Questioning the cleanliness of my bedsheets led me to sleep clothed, on top of my fleece that I am very glad I decided to bring (although it was probably just my imagination playing tricks on me..and what can I really expect for 250Ls a night, which is like $13CDN). On Monday I ventured to the streets again and bought some bedsheets to put over top...no luck on finding a pillow but that can wait until I am more settled and find a place to live.
While trying to find someone to teach/tutor me in Spanish I got connected with someone living in Juticalpa from the Peace Corps. Last night to avoid going crazy in my hotel room watching more Spanish television after it gets too dark to wander around getting lost and un-lost in the winding streets i met up with him and my potential tutor in central park. It was great to talk to some people, and they filled me in on some background history of Juticalpa and the projects he had worked on over the last two years he has been here. Apparently Juticalpa is like the Wild Wild West...the Texas of Honduras. Everyone carries a gun, and everyone is a little trigger happy. There is tons of machismo which explains all the comments that, gratefully, I don't understand whenever I walk around. And there is tons of very well formed and structured laws.....but little to no reinforcement. As long as I don't start selling drugs in someone else´s turf, steal someones women, or cut someone off while driving I should be okay...and don't worry, I don't plan on doing any of those things. After talking in the park the tree of us went back to his apartment, which was cool to see...and gave me a fiscal reference as to what I could expect for what price. He also mentioned he might be able to set me up with his host family that he stayed with at the beginning...which is cool, and the option I am leaning towards because I think it will help the most with picking up Spanish. Then he walked me home, which I was pretty grateful for because: 1) I would have without a doubt gotten lost 2) I still don't feel confident that I could get myself out of trouble if I find myself in it and 3) the city is an entirely different beast at night.
There isn't a lot to do while in limbo (waiting for Jose Luis to get back to Juticalpa, so we can go to work, and living in the hotel) and I have run out of little things to buy that give me an excuse to take a separate trip around town fore each thing...but I spent most of today trying to practice my Spanish, watched T.V. to pick up some slang, wandered around the streets, and started reading "The Great Gatsby" in central park. I think tonight I will call up Oscar and hopefully convince him to help me practice Spanish...or set up a day for the future.
Con Esperanza y Amor
Delaney C.
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